Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Part I
Posted on Sat Oct 25th, 2025 @ 6:17pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Vura
2,075 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: The Quarters of The Silence - Deck 4 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD011 0900 hrs
Tyler sat on the Bridge and stared out of the viewscreen at the planer below. The planet that had almost cost him his crew, his ship. He hoped that the beings down there would understand, would remember even if he could not remember once they left his ship. Speaking of, it was time that the Pioneer broke orbit and headed on its way.
"Well it seems that we have won the day. Our people are on the mend..." Tyler's voice trailed off as he saw the empty chair next to him. Neil was in Sick Bay as he healed from his injuries. "...I think it is time for some well earned shore leave." He turned toward the Science Station. "Commander Maren as you have developed a rapport with The Silence. Take Lieutenant Vura and escort our guest to Transporter Room 1. Lieutenant Walker, prepare to break orbit and set a course for Earth at warp six."
"Aye, sir." Alyssa logged out of her station and headed for the turbolift. Once inside, she telepathically informed the Silence that she and he counselor would be there shortly to escort them to the transporter room. But first, they wished to speak with them about something that could prevent future attacks by entities that wished to harm them.
The noise, the presence, that which did not belong had been silenced. It was due to the efforts and lives of those around. This was not lost on The Silence. The lone entity desired to return to its planet, its collective. The rebuild was needed, much was learned and much needed to be done to prevent this from ever happening again. They sensed through the one called Alyssa that she would be there to escort them home. All was well, and yet there was still trepidation.
She then tapped her comm badge. "Maren to Vura. You and I are to escort the Silence to Turbolift 1 with a brief stop at their quarters for a conversation."
=^= Acknowledged. I will be there shortly. =^=
Vura, as usual, had dressed herself fashionably. However, this morning, it was much more simple than usual: a form fitting purple dress, a gold choker with matching bracelets and earrings. Her makeup was a little thicker than normal today, attempting to cover the bags that formed under her eyes from assisting in sickbay. She could rest later.
"Lieutenant Maren and Honorable Guests, I am here. Are we ready?"
"Thank you for joining us," Alyssa said. She turned to the Silence. "This is our counselor, Lieutenant Vura. You met with her earlier. We wish to talk with you about future relations."
The Silence stepped forward and tilted its head to the right. This movement along with the unblinking eyes and lack of mouth presented a rather creepy image to anyone who gazed upon them. The Silence spoke through the connection with Alyssa Maren. The sound that came forth was both Alyssa's voice and not at the same time. "We are the Silence. We have come to understand that your kind does not wish to have people in their minds. Your kind enjoys the solitude of individuality. This we have learned during our time here. However, for ease of communication does the one called Vura allow us into her mind. For then we can communicate freely all three of us, without hindrances."
Vura felt like she should know who the Silence were, but she could not remember them. The Silence seemed polite and sincere when they expressed their understanding of their various species. Thus, she only thought about their offer for the briefest of moments. After all, Deltans had telepathy amongst their own race. Their sensuality was often expressed through it. Granted, under normal circumstances, Deltans could not use it with other species, so this would be a very new and exciting experience. Who else could speak of experiencing the Silence? Only Alyssa, and she did not really count amongst her race, as she was not Deltan. She would be the first! And what better way to expand understanding and potential furthering of discussions with the Federation? Therefore, she concluded, "We would welcome you into our mind."
Alyssa wondered why Vura used the Royal We, but as long as Vura agreed to letting the Silence in, she was fine with it.
The Silence stepped forward and stared directly into Vura's eyes. It was as if it could see directly into her soul, into all that created her. In an instant Vura's thoughts, Alyssa's thoughts and the thoughts of all that remained of The Silence were linked. Vura could now understand with clarity that which was The Silence. "This is the most efficient way for us to communicate. I know it is hard for beings such as yourself to allow this so, we thank you. Now, there is much to rebuild back on our planet. However, we are in your debt. So, please speak freely."
"My species is Deltan. We are used to communicating with our own species in this manner, so it is not as difficult for me as it might be the others. However, you are welcome. I believe that any time communication can be facilitated, it will help everyone involved. So, if this is what helps us, I believe it is in all of our best interests."
Vura mentally stopped herself from getting too involved on that thread. She then stopped her thoughts and took an imaginary small breath and said, "We came out here and expected nothing in return. It is our collective species' nature to want to assist others. We even would be willing to help you rebuild. However, I do not think anyone wants to forget you anymore. We are explorers and we want nothing more than to meet other species and build bonds of friendship with them."
"We are no different from that which is known as the Federation. We too are explorers. We have found it easier to get to know what is out there, who is out there when they come to this planet. Then as we have heard the words you speak before we make them forget. It is safer that way." Both Alyssa and Vura could feel the resolve, and anger that emanated from The Silence. Anger at what had transpired, what they could not stop. This situation just further proved that there was a need to be xenophobic.
"There is also a need to have allies," Alyssa added. "To help protect the Silence from others who wish them harm. We do not ask that the Silence open themselves to all people. We ask that you let the Pioneer remember. We want to hear the Silence if you need help. We want to remember how to find you if there is a need. Vaebn is no longer with the Pioneer and cannot help. But we are here. We can listen. You have been in my thoughts, you know I speak truth."
There was a long ponderous pause in the conversation as The Silence dwelt on what Alyssa had said. Then almost in defiance, perhaps as a way to cling to their ways and not progress a thought emerged and continued the conversation. "The one called Vaebn may not be of the Pioneer. Yet he was able to bring you now, when it was needed. He is also one to his word."
"He is. But he is far from the Pioneer and is not easily reached. We were fortunate this time. We may not be so fortunate the next." Alyssa shared some of the difficulty they had trying and failing to reach Vaebn. "There is a real concern that we may not be successful next time. He is not with Pioneer. We are Pioneer and we wish to help you. Vaebn remembers, but others of the Pioneer wish to remember, too. It can be one, or it can be many, but we wish the Pioneer to remember. We wish the Pioneer to be able to help the Silence." She wished she could ask about Starfleet, but they were so resistant to this much, she didn't dare ask for more.
Vura thought about it. While what Alyssa was saying was correct and logical, she was not addressing their fear and the Silence's concerns. "Doing anything new is frightening. It takes a lot of trust to allow others to come to you and be open, does it not? We are attempting to earn your trust - to show that we are not to be feared. We have never done anything to harm you, as far as I can recall. We only want to maintain contact and be friends. What more can we do to prove to you that our word is as good as Vaebn's?"
Alyssa had been part of the Silence's collective thoughts since they first boarded the Pioneer. She understood their fear of the entity, and now of being exposed to more threats from outsiders. While Vura spoke to the Silence, Alyssa shared some of her own understanding as a telepath and a scientist in the way her people shared. Not with words, but with emotions, images, and experiences. How telepaths were always bombarded with the thoughts and feelings of others but blocked what they could and said nothing of what they couldn't--unless they were given permission to do so. That, like Romulans, Betazoids knew how to keep secrets and confidences. She'd been in contact long enough to know where wordless communication worked and where she needed to use words in an effort to support what she and Vura were trying to explain to the Silence. "The Pioneer came when you called and fought the entity for you. We do not wish any others to cause you harm. We only want to remember so we can help you again if needed. But Pioneer must remember to be able to help again."
The Silence stood in ponderous quiet yet again. The images sent by Alyssa ran like a movie through their collective consciousness, and one could tell that they were processing those images and what they meant. The images helped them to understand, however, it was Vura's comment and question that prompted a response. "It is not you or the other individuals that are of the Pioneer that worry The Silence. It is the others within your Federation. Our fear is should they learn of our existence and our abilities they will want to exploit us." The being turned its head to look more directly at Vura. "You ask what you can do to prove that your word is as good as the one called Vaebn. However, you know as we do that there is truly nothing that can be done. Trust is a concept that simply must be. The Silence took what you would call a leap of faith in our previous encounter."
Vura considered the Silence's comment. "If you took a leap of faith in your previous encounter, then why not take another small leap? Trust is something that can be built. So let us use this experience to continue to build that relationship."
She continued to ponder the Silence's words, looking for a better response to their concern about being exploited. "The Federation has a policy of non-interference. Even knowing about you, our policy would be to not interfere with your culture in any way. We would not want to exploit you. Can you explain that fear more to us? Perhaps if we can understand it better, we could allay those fears?"
"The Pioneer is many, but we are one. We can lock information in our computers so that others cannot see it, to protect the Silence. But it would also let us know how to find you if you need us again. So we could remember and keep your identity secret. We have a department called intelligence. Part of what they do is keep secrets."
A Joint Post By
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
The Silence
Silence Will Fall
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